The National Council on Information has been charged to seek new ways of employing information dissemination to promote peace and security of the nation.
Governor Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola of Osun State made this known at Government Osogbo on Thursday, when the Minister of information, Mr. Labaran Maku accompanied by delegates of the 44th National Council on Information paid him a courtesy visit.
According to the Governor, "One thing the Council must seek to address and recognize is the significant role, security plays in development. A major challenge to security agencies is communication. It is very difficult for people to reach security operatives when they are in distress while the operatives on the other hand even find it a challenge to reach themselves."
He declared that his administration has invested in security through the purchase of modern communication equipment and the setting up of emergency call centers. Ogbeni Aregbesola however, stated that his State was denied authorization to use the short code '112′ for emergency call, which he said had posed a limitation to the State's vision to bridge all gaps in communication between the people and authorities.
While pointing out that the country's tele-density was very low, standing at 120 Million from 400,000 subscribers in 11 years, the Governor equally decried the poor internet penetration, which he said is at 40 percent and which he attributed to lack of adequate broadband access.
The Osun State Governor meanwhile, called on all statesmen to put aside partisanship after electioneering and focus on serving for the interest of the people of the country.
He emphasized that it was the duty of everyone to work towards the success of the nation, insisting that the future of the black race also depends on Nigeria.
While acknowledging the Federal Government's intervention in restoring rail transportation in the countering, he noted the significance of the rail system of transportation recalling that in 2005 during his election campaign, he and his team and supporters used the railways to access Osogbo when the access roads to the town were sealed off by security operatives.
The Governor had earlier commended Mr. Labaran Maku for his efforts and initiatives at the Federal Ministry of Information. He described the Minister as originating from a tradition of student activism on development.
"There cannot be a better salesman for the Administration. He is an amazing good choice for the Ministry he serves in. We must emphasize good choices for positions of service"; please demonstrate the same level of commitment and dexterity shown in the Ministry of Information in the Defence Ministry for as long as you would oversee that Ministry"; Governor Aregbesola urged.
Earlier, the Minister of Information, Mr. Labaran Maku expressed his gratitude and that of other delegates, to the Osun State Governor for hosting the 44th NCI following the Council's resolution in Calabar.
The Minister explained that the NCI brings together all stakeholders to brainstorm on information management in the country. "NCI presents the best opportunity to project the achievements of Osun State to the world since all attention is now on the State", Maku stated.
While he was speaking on the theme of this year's Council- 'Social Media and Public Information Management, the Minister noted that the advancement in the Social Media has given the world a new face in communication adding that the traditional media is now being threatened by the new media.
Maku said the country must now refocus with this development adding that this was a reason for choosing the theme stressing that "the new media is here to stay."
When speaking further, the Information Minister informed that his Ministry has given prominence to the use of social media for the development of the nation. He stated that the Federal Government under President Goodluck Jonathan is the most documented in the history of the country. "Everything we are doing on the Transformation Agenda is hosted on our social media platforms", Maku explained.
"In the last two years we have introduced programs which have been promoted on the Social Media, which include the Ministerial Platform and which has had two editions, that of 2012 and 2013. The other programme is the ongoing National Good Governance Tour", the Minister added.
While observing that the social media has no gatekeepers, the Minister decried its abuse all over the world. He therefore, called for the responsible use of the social media to promote and sustain peace and development stressing that no meaningful development could be made void of peace.
The Minister also used the opportunity of the visit to highlight some of the initiatives undertaken by the present Administration to transform the country. Mr. Maku stated that the Federal Government is a service provider to States and is finding ways to collaborate with States to move the nation forward urging all to be prepared to work together across party lines.
He said Government was working to replace the old rail lines in the state to develop an alternative mode of transformation.
In the area of power, the Minister said with the new 10 power plants being strategically positioned by the Federal Government across the country it was his hope that the sector would witness the kind of progress witnessed in the telecommunications sector.
While assuring that the Federal Government will ensure that media continue to thrive on a free press. He equally stressed that the media being the sub-power of a nation to defend the peace and integrity of their nations should be objective and promote development.
Maku further urged the people of Osun to continue to partner with the Federal Governor stressing that the progress of states is the progress of the nation.
Source: Osun Gov., Aregbesola tasks NCI to explore information as a tool for security. (http://fmi.gov.ng/latest/30646/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=osun-gov-aregbesola-tasks-nci-to-explore-information-as-a-tool-for-security)
Federal Ministry of Information (FMI) Nigeria